Electrical-current interrupter.



No. 852,186. I PATENTED APR. 30, 1907.

' F. W. LORD & F. W ERIGKSON. ELECTRICAL CURRENT INTERRUPTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.28.1907.

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UNITE STATES PATENT OFFTGE'.

FREDERIO W. LORD AND FREDERIO WM. ERICKSON, OF NEl/V YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRICAL-CURRENT INTERRUPTERB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 30, 1907.

Application filed January 28, 1907. Serial No. 854,488.

T at whom, 715 may concern.-

Be it known that we, FREDERIO W. LORD and Fnnnnnic WM. ERIOKSON, bothresiding at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain Improvements in Electrical-Current Interruptcrs,of which the following is a specifiany lightning discharge if employedwith It therefore besuch high potential lines. 2 5 comes necessary toprovide means for establishing an easy path for the lightning dischargesseparating from these discharges the dynamic current which would followthe break down of the medium caused by the 0 lightning discharge.

The means about to be described provide for a large number of rapidlymoving air gaps in the aggregate having sufficient resistance to safelyprevent the normal current from 3 5 discharging to the ground; and atthe same time providing an opportunity for the lightnin g discharges orsurges of abnormal potential to jump from one to the other of thevarious spark parts to the ground. All of 4,0 which we will now proceedto describe and point out in the appended claims.

Of the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention: Figure 1 isa longitudinal view partly in section of the invention,

and Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line at, cc, of the former figure.

In the drawings, W represents an inclosing case for the parts of thearrester, provided on each end with hubs, 0 and p, through which extendthe shafts F, F, from the re spective motors Q and P these arepreferably electrical motors: At the outset it may be said that theconstruction about to be described may not be that used in actualpractice, although the features of the invention are plainly indicatedthereby.

The lower portion A of the inclosing case is composed of metalpreferably cast in one piece, having at its underside a lug a in whichis located a ground wire J, held in place by the set screws (Z; theupper edge of the portion A is rabbeted at r to receive the upperportion B which. is made of some suitable in sulating material as glassor porcelain and is provided with a cover C, having at its centralportion a lug 3 into which is secured by the set screw 6 a branch I fromthe line wire L, N.

Secured to the lug s by the set screw f is an adjustable electrode ll,consisting of a spindle 25 extending into the upper portion B upon theend of which is pivoted at the depending electrode iprovided on one sidewith the screw threaded arm h upon which is screwed the adjustableweight 9, above the pivot the electrode is forked, the two arms Z, Z,being adapted to strike the stop pin 7c in the spindle in a manner to bedescribed. A conductor m extends from the spindle t to the electrode ito avoidthe resistance of the pivoted joint; while at rest the electrode"L and its weight 9 remain in the position represented by full lines.

The shafts F and F extend into the lower case A and meet in the commonhub K, of in sulating material, the former shaft is adapted to have abearing in the hub and to rotate therein, while the latter shaft issecured in he hub by a spline or in any suitable manner and rotates withit. To the hub K is secured to move therewith, the double arm electrode0, more arms may be provided if desired, the peripheries i and 5 of thearms are curved and serrated, and increase in diameter rearwardly andmove in the direction of the unfeathered arrow.

The shaft F is attached to the hub to of the disk D through which itpasses.

L, L are metal segments serrated on their inner and outer faces andseparated from each other at their ends by passages S, 8, these segmentsare secured at one end to the disk D and at their opposite ends to aring (Z by the bolts N, there being interposed the insulating washers Mon each end and the insulating sleeves l-Jl. The segments L are adaptedto be rotated by means of the shaft F in the direction of the featheredarrow, contrary to the movement of the arms E.

Attached to the inner bottom of the lower portion A is a serrated metalelectrode 0, this electrode may be cast with the port-ion A if desired.

The case is to be partly filled with oil Z to immerse the lower end ofthe electrode i when moved to the dotted position, and not 30 reach thesame when in the position of full lines.

On one sideo'f the lower portion A and secured thereto is an insulatedshell G having wings G extending on each side of the disk D and ring I)this may reach over the top of the disk D if desired (with a slot forthe movement of the electrode i) as indicated. in the dotted lines. Theollice of this shell is to accentuate the force of the liquid in itscentri -ugal motion caused by the opposite rotation of the electrodes Eand the disk D when put in motion by the respective motors and. directit toward the top of the casing, at which time the electrode 7) isforced forward by the oil into the dotted position against the force ofthe weight g and spark gap circuits are established from the electrodeat to the moving segments L and from one to another, or through the armsE, to the electrode 0 and. to ground.

hen the motors are at rest and the oil is therefore quiet the weight gdepresses the electrode i and causes it to move to a safe distance outfrom the oil so that the breaking down of the instrument is prevented bythe high resistance due to the increased distance between the electrodei and any section L, this distance is determined by experiment with themaximum line voltage carried. The forks, Z, as will be evident, limitthe action of the weight, by their contact with the pin 76, in onedirection holding the electrode i in a vertical position, in the otherdetermining the drop of the weight.

It will be seen that the oil is kept agitated by the rotation of theparts as described, and while it assists in preventing the formation ofarcs, which the rapid rotation of the segments through the same aims tosuppress, it also plays upon the electrode i and keeps it in a verticalposition with the minimum spark gap, based on the speed of the rotatingdisk D, and overcomes the effect of the weight.

The construction of the peripheries of the arms E is such as to providea compressing action on their surfaces and assist in forcing the oilthrough the spaces 8, 8, between the segments and over the serratedsurfaces of the same.

The advantages of a series of rapidly movi of a self adjusting pivotedline electrode, a

ing serrated segments across the path of a any one series of sections,another series takes its place, and arcs are dissipated rapidly, and thesegments as a whole are kept comparat-ively cool.

I claim as my invention:

l. The combination in. an arrester device of a casing partly filled withliquid insulation, inclosing and supporting spark gap electrodes,adapted to be arranged in series from the line wire to the ground,consisting ol. a self adjusting pivoted line electrode, a series ofrotatable spark gap segments arranged in a circle, with agroundedelectrode.

2. The combination in an arrester device of a casing containing liquidinsulation, inclosing and supporting spark gap electrodes adapted to bearranged in series from the line wire to the ground, consisting of asell adjusting pivoted line electrode, a series of rotatable insulatedspark gap segments separated from each other and arranged in a circle,with a grounded electrode.

3. The combination in an arrester device of a casing containing liquidinsulation, inclosing and supporting spark gap electrodes adapted to bearranged in successive series from the line wire to the ground,consisting of a self adjusting pivoted line electrode normally free fromthe liquid insulation, but when the liquid is agitated changes itsposition and becomes immersed therein, a series of rotatable insulatedspark gap segments separated from each other and arranged in a circle,with a grounded electrode.

l. The combination in an arrester device of a casing partly filled withliquid insulation, inclosing and supporting spark gap electrodes adaptedto be arranged in series from the line wire to the ground, consisting ofa self adjusting pivoted line electrode, a series of spark gap segmentsarranged in a circle and adapted to be rotated in a certain direction, aplurality of electrodes located within the said segmental circle adaptedto be rotated in a. direction opposite the motion thereof, with agrounded electrode.

5. The combination in an arrester device of a casing inclosing andsupporting spark gap electrodes adapted to be arranged in successiveseries from the line wire to the ground, consisting of a self adjustingpivoted line electrode, a series of rotatable insulated spark gapsegments separated from each other and arranged in a circle, with agrounded electrode.

6. The combination in an arrester device of a casing containing liquidinsulation, inclosing and supporting spark gap electrodes adapted to bearranged in successive series from the line wire to the ground,consisting series of rotatable insulated spark gap segcurrent dischargewill be apparent, as while I ments separated from each other by passagesthe current is discharged to ground through 1 and arranged in a circleupon a d1sk or lrame,

scares a shield at one end of the casing arranged to inclose the saidsegments, and a grounded electrode, as set forth.

7. The combination in an arrester device of a casing containing liquidinsulation, inclosing and supporting spark gap electrodes adapted to bearranged in successive series from the line wire to the ground,consisting of a self adjusting pivoted line electrode, a series ofrotatable insulated spark gap seg ments separated from each other bypassages and arranged in a circle upon a disk, a shield at one end ofthe casing arranged to inclose the said segments, a plurality ofelectrodes located. within the said segmental circle adapted to berotated in a direction. opposite the motion thereof.

8. The combination in an arrester device of a plurality of electrodesseparated from each. other by air gaps adapted to be arranged insuccessive series from the line wire to the ground, consisting of a lineelectrode, and a ground electrode, between which are a series ofrotatable insulated electrodes separated from each other.

9. The combination in an arrester device of spark gap electrodes adaptedto be ar ranged in successive series from the line wire to the ground,consisting of a line electrode and a ground electrode between which area series of rotatable insulated electrodes separated. from. each other,with a plurality of electrodes located within the said series ofelectrodes adapted to be rotated in a direction opposite the motionthereof.

10. The combination in. an arrester device of'spark gap electrodesadapted to be arranged in successive series from the line wire to theground, consisting of a line electrode normally held at a highresistance position andv means for automatically forcing it into a lowresistance position; and a grounded electrode; with a series ofrotatable insulated electrodes between the line and ground. electrodeseparated from each other, as set forth.

11 The combination in an arrester device of a casing containing liquidinsulation, inelosing and supporting spark gap electrodes adapted to bearranged in successive series from the line wire to the ground;ctmsisting of a self adjusting pivoted line electrode, a series ofrotatable insulated spark gap segments separated from each other andarranged. in a circle upon a suitable support carried by a shaft towhich is attached a suit able motor, w1th a grounded electrode eompletmgany series of spark gaps.

1.2. The combination in an arrester device adapted to be arranged insuccessive series from the line wire to the ground; consisting l 1 l lseries of rotatable spark gap segments separated from each. other andarranged in a circle upon a suitable support carried by a shaft to whichis attached a suitable motor and. rotating in a certain direction, aplurality of e ectrodes located within the said segmental circle and earied by a shaft to which is attached a motor adapted to rotate in adirection opposite that of the first motor, with a grounded electrodecompleting any series of spark gaps.

' 13. The combination in. an arrester device of a casing whose lowerportion is metal and its upper portion of insulating material, providedwith a cover or lid, containing liquid insulation, a line electrodesupported upon the lid; a series of independent spark gap segmentsarranged in a circle upon a suitable support carried by a shaft whichpasses through the wall of the metal casing to an external motor; with agrounded electrode completing any series of spark gaps; the lineelectrode being automatically adjustable relative to the succeedingspark gaps, as set forth.

14-. T he combination in an arrester device of a casing whose lowerportion is metal and its upper portion of insulating material, pro videdwith a cover or lid, containing liquid insulation, a line electrodesupported upon the lid; a series of independent insulated spark gapsegments arranged in a circle upon a suitable support carried by a shaftwhich passes through the wall of the metal casing to an external motor,which rotates in a certain direction; a plurality of electrodes locatedwithin the said segmental circle and carried by a shaft which passesthrough the wall of the metal casing to an external motor rotating in acontrary direction. to the first motor; with a grounded electrodecompleting any series of spark gaps the line electrode beingautomatically adjustable relative to the succeeding spark gaps, as setforth.

15. The combination in an arrester device of a plurality of electrodesinsulated from eael'r other, adapted to be arranged in successive seriesfrom the line ire to the ground, consisting of a line electrode and aground electrode, between which are a series of insulated electrodesseparated from each other and supported by a frame which is carried by arotatable spindle.

16. The combination in an arrester device of a plurality of electrodesinsulated from each other, adapted to be arranged in successive seriesfrom the line wire to the ground consisting of a line electrode and aground electrode, between which is a disk carrying series of separateand insulated. electrodes, adapted to be rota ted by a motor.

1'7. The combination in an arrester device of a casing inclosing andsupporting spark of a self ad'ustin ivoted line electrode' l aelectrodes adaited to be arran ed in sucb n a cessive series from theline Wire to the ground, consisting of an adjustable line electrode, aJanuary 1907. series of rotatable insulated spark gap elec- FREDERICLORD. trodes separated from each other and arl FREDERIC M. ERICKSON.ranged in a circle, with a grounded electrode. l \Vitnesses:

In testimony whereof, We have signed our N. C. HAYNES,

two subscribing Witnesses, this 18th day of names to this specificationin the presence of J. M. VVATTERS.

